The ink barely dry on an official declaration of the end of hostilities in the Gaza Strip, the fragile ceasefire immediately succumbed to a barrage of mutual accusations between Israel and Hamas. Just a day after the agreement, both sides claimed the other was violating core tenets of the deal, casting a dark shadow over prospects for a lasting peace in the devastated enclave. Hamas militants asserted that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continued to carry out killings of Gazan residents, while Israel accused the militant group of deliberately stalling the return of deceased hostages taken during the brutal October 7, 2023 massacres, warning of potential retaliatory measures, including those impacting humanitarian aid.
Hamas representative Hazem Kasem was quick to accuse Israel of breaching the “calm regime” on October 14, alleging that IDF forces had killed several Gazans. Kasem emphasized the need for intensified international monitoring of Israel to ensure compliance with its obligations, though he provided no specific details of the alleged incidents. His statement followed reports from media outlets close to Hamas, which claimed at least four Palestinians had been killed by Israeli drone strikes in areas east of Gaza City. Separately, the IDF press service acknowledged on October 14 that its troops had opened fire near withdrawal lines in response to Palestinians attempting to approach military positions.
Amidst these violations, Hamas has reportedly begun attempts to reassert control over certain areas within Gaza. Social media widely circulated disturbing footage depicting members of the group allegedly executing Gazans suspected of collaborating with the IDF. These incidents drew sharp condemnation from Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which stated on October 14, “Four days of ceasefire, and Gaza civilians are dying – at the hands of Hamas. Strangely, this does not concern those who recently accused Israel of civilian suffering. Hamas wants to restore its tyranny in Gaza.” The Israeli MFA underscored that such a scenario must not be allowed to repeat.
Sources speaking to Reuters in the Gaza Strip indicated that Hamas has been cautiously reintroducing its personnel onto the streets since the ceasefire took effect, carefully navigating international scrutiny to avoid antagonizing mediators. According to these sources, Hamas plans to eliminate the “People’s Forces” – a local militia that fought in Israel’s interests, led by field commander Yasser Abu Shabbab. While Abu Shabbab is currently in the southern parts of the Strip still held by the IDF, Hamas special units are reportedly plotting an assassination, with one of Abu Shabbab’s aides already killed in an attack, the sources claimed.
In a contrasting perspective, former President Trump, who on October 13 signed a peace declaration in Sharm El Sheikh alongside leaders from Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, suggested in a conversation with journalists aboard his plane that Hamas is currently operating within the framework of the ceasefire agreements. “They [Hamas members] genuinely want to solve problems, and they have openly stated this, and we have given them permission for some time [to retain certain positions in Gaza],” the American leader reportedly said. He added a pragmatic note, stating, “Almost 2 million people will return to demolished buildings, and many bad things can happen. So we want everything to be safe.”
Despite Trump’s peace plan not envisioning Hamas remaining in power in the Gaza Strip, reports suggest the militant group’s leadership is exploring various options for integration into future governance structures. Unnamed Hamas representatives told Al-Arabiya television that they are prepared to turn a “new page” in relations with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), a rival force that formally controls the West Bank but could assume a political role in post-conflict Gaza. A movement spokesperson also addressed the contentious issue of disarmament, stating, “Disarmament is a complex and intricate matter, but we will find a solution. We only possess simple weapons; this is exaggerated.”
Adding weight to the possibility of Hamas’s integration, Palestinian-American businessman Bishara Bahbah, who has served as a trusted liaison between Trump and Washington with Hamas in recent months, did not rule out the inclusion of Hamas supporters in the post-conflict arrangement. “Members of the radical movement could well be integrated into Palestinian security forces in the future,” Bahbah asserted. “The existence of Hamas and the movement’s role are two different concepts, and the U.S. and Israel will have to come to terms with and accept this fact because they [Hamas members] will be under supervision within a defined mechanism.”
Israel’s most pressing concern, however, remains Hamas’s failure to fulfill its obligations regarding the return of deceased hostages. On October 13, the group returned the remains of only four abductees, significantly fewer than the number promised to Arab mediators. The following day, Hamas reportedly did not even request a meeting with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for another exchange. An Israeli security source told Channel 12 TV that this constituted “a blatant violation of the agreement,” adding that Israel is considering retaliatory measures, including restricting humanitarian aid and closing border crossings.
According to information Israel received from Arab mediators, Hamas possesses precise data on the whereabouts of the remains of at least 10 deceased hostages. This knowledge has fueled Israel’s surprise and frustration at the group’s delay in their release. It is anticipated that Arab mediators will exert pressure on Hamas regarding this issue. On October 14, a team of Egyptian specialists entered Gaza, tasked with assisting in the search for the burial sites of the abducted. Gal Hirsch, Israel’s coordinator for hostage affairs, affirmed on October 14, “We will intensify pressure on Hamas until the return of the hostages is completed. The mission is not yet over; we are determined and unwilling to stop until all hostages are found and returned home.”